SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3485, 12 June 1879, Page 2

SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council was held this afternoon at the offico of Mr G-. Booth. Tho following were present — His Worship tho Mayor (in tho chair), Councillors Brown, J'avitt, White, Charter^, Andrew, and Langdown.

.ho proceedings were oponod by the Town Olerk reading the circular whioh had been sent convening the meeting "for the purposo of considering the proposals of tlio Christchurch City Council re the South town belt. Tho Mayor pointed oufc that, although the meeting was not strictly speaking a legal meeting, whatever was resolved upon could be validated at the next meeting of the Council, bo that any resolution now mado eouli be acted upon at once. Councillor White understood that the City Council would contribute £500, provided the borough undertook to channel the belt. The Mayor believed it wa_ so. ; '• ' Councillor Pavitt thought , that if it was'

explained to tho Oity Oounoii that the Sydenham Borough would make the roadway and footpath the city would give the money. Councillor Langdown understood that the City Council would expeot to have the work done undor the supervision of their surveyor. Councillor Pavitt thought that the conorete channelling was a work that oould not be done by the men now out of work, and his impression was the South belt was to be formed in order to give work to the unemployed.

The Mayor said that the Mayor of Christchurch was of opinion that the City Counoil would not insist on the supervision of the work.

CounoUlor Andrew thought that if the concrete channelling were done, and the residents not required* to contribute to the expense, it would be unfair to thoso ratepayers who had already been compelled to contribute where the concrete had been formed.

Ceunoillor Pavitt thought the Borough, might engage to form the road and footpath, provided the city contributed £500. They need not bind themselves to do tho channelling.

The Mayor said the Oity CouncU would not agree to that.

OounoiUor Andrew suggested that a meeting of the ratepayers on the South town belt might be caUed, in order that their consent might be obtained to the payment of a contribution towards the expense of channelling.

Councillor Brown said the unemployed could not wait while this consent was being obtained.

OounoiUor Andrew thought that tho work might be paid for oufc of the loan which he .understood the Council intended to negooiate. The Mayor said there was no chance of a loan being raised at present. Councillor Brown suggested that some ar* rangement might be made that the ohanneUing should be dono upon the consent of the ratepayers being obtained. Councillor Whito was in favour of the Sydenham CouncU taking the responsibility of f ormisg and shingling the road at once, and making the oonorefce channelling at tbe Bame time as fche reßfc of the streets of the Borough ; in the meantime engaging to keep clean the south channel of the belts, provided the City Counoil paid £500. Councillor Pavitt moved— "That with a view to at once employ destitute workmen, the Sydouham Borough Council form the roadway and the footpath on the south side of the belt, and also channel fche samo in ae'eordance with a plan to be adopted by the Oity and Borough Surreyors, provided the City Counoil will contribute afc once £600, the Sydenham Council undertaking to complete the channelling within six months from date. The work to be under tho joint supervision of tho Surveyors of the City nnd Borough." Oounoillor White would agree to construct tho ohanneUing on the belt before any other ohanneUing was done. The Mayor said that probably they would have money to do this channelling as goon as the rates began to be collected. This could be used until the other ohanneUing had to bo made, and tho latter oould bo paid for out of a loan whioh, by that time, could possibly be i raised.

.. OounoiUor Andrew , sooonded Oounoillor Pavifct's resolution.

OounoiUor Charters would support it, aB he was desirous that work should be given to the unemployed without loss of time. Councillor White objected to £720 being spent upon olmnnelliug; hut of that sum only £80 or £100 would be for the benefit of the uuom ploy od, the rest being for material. Besides, ifc was unfair to fche other portions of the Borough. Ho also thought tho work could not be done within 6 months.

Councillor Andrews thought that whatever was spent in channelling should oventually bo charged to the lean account.

Councillor Pavitt thought tho City Counoil would agree to tho proposition he 'had made. Tho Mayor urged fcho Council fco permit no delay — the unemployed were pressing for work. If fche work was not to be on the belt, the Council should find work somewhere else in the Borough. He had thought Oounoillor Whito would have beon the first to support tho proposition. If he (Councillor White) wished an alteration would he propose an amendment P

Councillor Whito would nofc oppose fche resolution, though ho did not agree with it. The Mayor did not think this work would give employment for more than six or eight weeks.

After some further disoussion had taken place tho resolution was about to be put, whon —

Councillor White movod— "That seeing the Government will not subsidise the amount voted by the City and Sydenham Borough Councils for the formation of the South Belt, and with a view to at onco employing destitute workmen, fcho Sydenham Oounoii will form the roadway and footpath of the South Belt, and channel tho same in aooordance with a plan to be adopted by tho City and Borough surveyors, provided tho City Oounoii will contribute the sum of £500. Tho Sydenham ( ounoil undertaking to lay this channel first whon a general soheme, whioh fchey intend to introduce at once for thafc purpose, is ontered on by the Sydenham Borough Counoil, and undertaking to keep the channel perfeotly clean in tho meantime : the work to be under the supervision of the city surveyor." Councillor Oharters seconded the amendment, which was carriod ; Councillor Pavitt withdrawing his motion.

Councillor Oharters movod and OounoiUor Langdown sooonded the following resolution : "That if fche Chrißtohuroh City Counoil do nofc assent to tho proposition of this Counoil, tho Works Committee bo orapoworod to at onco find work for tho unemployed within the Borough afc a cost not exceeding £500, as agreed to by tho Council at a provious meeting."

This was unanimously agreed to, and the meeting closed.